$28 Million Doesn’t Show Trevor Ariza that Lakers Appreciate Him

I really don’t understand what the appeal is with being an agent. Sure, you get a percentage of a multi-million dollar contract, but you also come out looking like the jerk. Take baseball’s version of the devil, or Scott Boras if you will. The guy wanted to use Jorge Posada’s contract as a baseline for Jason Varitek’s new deal, and that for a catcher who barely hit a C minus GPA. Well Trevor Ariza’s agent’s comments regarding the Lakers’ negotiations with the free agent were quite humorous:

In particular, Ariza and his agent weren’t thrilled by the Lakers’ annual offer of $5.6 million over an unspecified number of years. Ariza, 24, was hoping for $7 million to $8 million a year.
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“All we’re looking for is little appreciation for what Trevor has done,” Lee said Wednesday. “I don’t think they believe Trevor is serious about leaving, and that’s too bad. I didn’t think we’d be in this situation. I am disappointed and surprised by what I thought would be some feelings for the people who have given you everything they’ve got.”

Don’t even get me started on a team that ends up paying 7 or 8 million a year for a guy who’s nice defensively and at-best a fourth option on offense because he just developed an outside shot. Yes Ariza was a valuable piece in the Lakers winning the championship but 7 or 8 million? That’s a little much, wouldn’t you say? Given the climate of contracts, I’d say the mid-level exception is more than a fair offer showing plenty of appreciation. And last I checked, a good starting point was for the player to average more points per game than money he’s requesting in salary per year … just saying.